Pet Passports: The Pet Travel Scheme (P.E.T.S.)

New Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) regulations:

From 1st January 2012 the rules for bringing dogs and cats into the the UK will change.  All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies.  Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel.  Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait before they enter the UK.  Please call the clini to discuss these changes if your pet does not yet have a passport and you are planning travel.

Import of dogs:

We  would like to stress to anyone who is planning on importing an animal to the UK that the import must be carried out according to AHVLA regulations.  Using a pet export company can make the process much less burdensome.  If a pet is imported without being declared to customs, along with the necessary completed paperwork, he/she is liable to either quarantine on entering the UK or immediate export to the country of origin.

Buying pets in the UK:

We see many more sick puppies and kittens bought through 'free-ads' services from newspapers or via places on the internet than come from registered breeders.  Please encourage responsible pet breeding by only purchasing animals from estalishments that are clean and well run, where the parents are obviously well looked after and where correct pre-purchase healthcare has been carried out by the breeders (ask our nursing team for advice on this matter). 'Saving' animals from shabby establishments only encourages them to continue breeding for profit.  If you are concerned about a breeding establishment please contact the local RSPCA inspectors who will carry out an investigation.

BEFORE GOING ABROAD YOUR PET NEEDS:

A microchip for identification and a rabies vaccination.

A blood sample taken three weeks later to confirm the vaccination has achieved the approved level of protection. Occasionally, more often in very young animals, a second vaccination is needed to pass this test. We will ring you with results as soon as they arrive, approximately 3 weeks after taking the blood sample.

We can then issue your pet with an authorized EU passport.

PLAN AT LEAST SEVEN MONTHS AHEAD.

Your pet may go abroad at any time but is not permitted to re-enter the UK until six months from the date the blood sample was taken.

Most EU countries require a rabies vaccinations to be given at least twenty one days before entering their country.

Each year, before going abroad, we would encourage you to contact AHVLA (Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agencies) to ensure that the requirements for the countries have not changed, once we know that the requirements have been double checked we can offer you advice on how to protect your pet from ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies, and the life-threatening diseases they can transmit.

If your pet is visiting a country outside the EU please contact Animal Health (AHVLA - 01228 403 600) to verify the relevant import requirements.

Plan ahead as your pet may require a AHVLA issued export health certificate.

QUALIFYING COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES.

WHILE ABROAD: 

Treat your pet with the preventative anti-parasite medication we have provided.

It may be worth considering taking out additional travel insurance cover for your pet, please contact your pet insurance provider to enquire about this service. Remember that you are subject to the laws of the country you are in, and therefore you may be liable for damage caused by your pet.

BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UK:

Your pet will need specific tick and tapeworm treatments before returning.

These must be administered not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before departure by air, sea or Channel Tunnel back to the UK.  Please visit a veterinary surgeon who will apply the treatments and fill in the appropriate pages for you in your pet's passport.

Make sure the vet fills out the time of day as well as the date of treatment to ensure that there is no confusion. 

MAINTAINING YOUR PET ON THE TRAVEL SCHEME:

As long as your pet is has a booster vaccination against rabies before their present vaccine expires the scheme simply rolls over without the requirement for a further blood test.

In the UK any veterinary surgeon may give a rabies booster but only a DEFRA Official Veterinarian (OV) may sign a passport. Our daytime veterinary surgeon Helen, is an OV. You may need to leave your pet's passport with us to be updated if Helen is not on shift when you come in for your appointment.

We encourage you to devise your own reminder system. While we will do our best to let you know when the rabies vaccination is due, the responsibility to keep all vaccinations up to date remains with you, the owner.

The rabies vaccine can last one, two or three years.

We use a vaccine that is licensed for three years for dogs or cats resident in the UK. The rules regarding how often the vaccine needs to be adminsitered vary from country to country, even for the same brand of vaccine can vary. We are happy to discuss the implications of this if your pet is scheduled to have a prolonged stay abroad.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY ADVICE REGARDING THE ABOVE POINTS PLEASE CONTACT THE CLINIC FOR A CONSULTATION.